New Pup Shopping List - have I got everything? :-)

[tulpe]

Okay so here is a list of everything I picked up today in anticipation of Ruby the Vizsla arriving in 3 weeks .

Vetbed (for crate - which we already have)
Large bedding mat for sitting room (so she has a defined area for resting/playing in there)
Handful of toys (ready to be replaced as and when!)
Puppy Kong & Kong treats - I got the small which is for pups up to 10kg so assume I will need to replace as she grows.
Nylon collar
Short nylon leash
Training pads (for use in house and car - thought they would be better than newspaper)
Water & feeding bowls - stainless steel, non-tipping style
Pack of treats to use specifically for training related reward
Treat bag (I know, unnecessary but I was having a shopping moment!)
ID tag (already engraved with our surname, phone no, house no & postcode)
Grooming brush
Nail clippers
Anti-biting stuff (not the Bitter Apple but some PAH own brand stuff)
Poop bags

Still need to get:
Drontal worming treatment (which breeder is already using)
Snuggle Puppy

Breeder will be supplying us with huge bag of Royal Canin pup food so don't need to get that either.

I am thinking of getting her a lighter-weight leash for using around the house. I have read that they can be a good way to get pup used to the tug they may feel when on leash outside.

Any thoughts/opinions on what I've already bought or have missed??

Thanks

I wouldn't use training pads at all. Just outside for wees much quicker and easier for the dog to learn.

Otherwise lucky pup - it is so exciting!

Thanks minimu.

I thought the training pads might come in useful to have in her crate to begin with - in case of accidents. My intention was to take her straight outside to a defined area to do wees and poos generally.

Do you think this will confuse her?

Also, what's your opinion on using leash indoors - just letting her run around with it attached?

I agree with mimimu. (again ) I wouldn't use puppy training pads at all. I have never used them, but most people who I know who have have found that puppy actually associates the place they wee in, not that they are weeing on the pads, so when you remove the pads they still think it is fine to wee in the same place.

The quickest and most effective way to toilet train is to make sure the pup never wees or poos in the house. Easier said than done, but it is achievable. I wouldn't use them in the crate either, she will nto want to wee in her bed, and if it small enough, she won't. If you crate her during car journeys it'll probably make her travel better as well as be safer in the car and will also stop her toileting during journeys.

Brilliant advice as always

Thanks midori. You see, ITA with trying to ensure they never poop or wee in house but when I have said as much to friends irl, they have eyed me skeptically as if to say "right, you wait"! But, for example, someone raised an issue on another thread today about a lab pooing in the house even though he has just done so outside and therefore the importance of establishing a set place for poop/wee and praising there only, so that the dog begins to recognise that its not just the act but the place which elicits reward.

I am so enjoying reading about pups and psychology of dogs that I am getting a handle on exactly what you can achieve from an early age with a dog if you "speak the same language" as it were. I think it helps that I was a psychologist before having my DCs so it makes sense to me to explore dog specific communication.

I will return the training pads then (which means I get £20 back!) and just use one of the Pampers Care mats that are still lingering in the spare room for journey home with pup

I use old towels from charity shops for travelling etc - very absorbent and cheap, and reusable! Also great for rubbing down wet dogs/pups

Blimey, for £20 I'd definitely try and manage without them, I can't believe how expensive they are!!!

We uaually take new pups home on our laps, but they are likely to wee, poop or be sick, or all three....

Deodourising spray and carpet cleaner for when accidents happen - even if you miraculously don't get any wee/poo, puppies are sometimes sick.

Puppy shampoo in case she has an accident in her cage and sits in it.

oh yes - we remembered carpet cleaner/deodourising spray just forgot to put on list here!

Will add pup shampoo to list.

Midori - they were £20 for 56 mats.

My friend is coming along with me on day I collect pup in order to hold her on her lap rather than crate her. We thought this would be kinder and less stressful for her.

BTW, we had great success with using drops of Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus Globulous) when our cats kept peeing and pooping in inappropriate places during kittenhood. Worked a treat - neither dogs nor cats can abide the aroma and so it stops them going back to a specific place for toileting where they shouldn't.

Take puppy shampoo off list.

Substitute baby bath.

Saving you a fortune here, aren't we?

And (for future ref) - nappy sacks generally cheaper than poo bags

nappy sacks are cheaper but i prefer poop bags as they are black and you can;t see the contents! something you might want to consider.
also depends on type of puppy you are getting, bbay shampoo works fine on my black lab but on my cairn terrier and springer spaniel it leaves their fur quite rough and i like them nice and soft.
also if you are walking the puppy outside when young, dependign on the breed you might want a coat for him/her. again my lab and spaniel are fine without coats but my cairn feels the cold and so has a black showerproof fleece lined coat.